With banners held high, cheerleaders helped Pierre Huntress, at left, propose to his future-wife, Buffy Thibodeau, in between boys and girls varsity basketball games on Dec. 14 at the Limestone Community School gymnasium. Between 700 and 800 people were on hand to cheer as Huntress got down on one knee and placed the engagement ring on Thibodeau’s finger.

LIMESTONE, Maine — For all Buffy Thibodeau knew, it was just another cheerleading routine set to the song “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder — until the cheerleaders traded the standard “go, fight, win” rhetoric for a more romantic cheer.

In five gravity-defying mounts, cheerleaders revealed five signs containing the question “Will you marry me, Buffy?”

Two second-graders, Evan Beaulieu and Sierra Beaulieu — dressed up as tuxedo clad groom and bride in a golden dress, stood before a surprised Thibodeau while her husband-to-be, Pierre Huntress, walked forward with the ring, got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.

The crowd of between 700 and 800 in the Limestone Community High School gymnasium cheered and applauded while many wiped tears from their eyes — including the bride to be. After she said yes and the engaged couple embraced, Thibodeau was presented with a bouquet of yellow roses.

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The proposal occurred on Dec. 14 between the girls and boys varsity basketball games that were held in conjunction with a fundraising Bling celebration held at the Limestone school. The Bling fundraiser originated last year when classmates, teachers and area residents wanted to recognize teenage cancer survivor Zach Cote, pay tribute to others who have battled the disease and raise money to benefit the American Cancer Society. Cote, a student at the school, lost his leg to cancer on Dec. 15, 2009, but returned with a prosthetic leg to play baseball, soccer and basketball.

The Bling fundraiser was reprised this year with proceeds to benefit the local cancer organization known as Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery, or CANCER.

Jennifer Poitras, a Title I reading teacher at the Limestone Community School, who again helped organize the Bling event, smiled shortly after the proposal that she also helped make happen.

“Didn’t I tell you the surprise was going to be as Bling as it gets?” she said.

While Huntress appeared cool and collected during the proposal, he admitted later that he was nervous and said he hadn’t been able to get a good night’s sleep in months while planning the proposal.

The two could hardly be seen for the rest of the evening without a smile on their faces.